Omeed Aziz Popal
Encyclopedia
Omeed Aziz Popal is alleged to have intentionally struck 18 pedestrians with his black Honda Pilot
SUV on August 30, 2006, and faces a murder charge and 19 counts of attempted murder. Popal was 29 at the time of the attack. Several major news organizations have described his attack in the San Francisco Bay Area
as a "rampage".
, California, and died at 11:50 am. Another victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
Popal struck two men at the intersection of Sutter and Steiner Streets in San Francisco. He passed through the intersection again in an attempt to hit the men a second time—and then a third time—before moving on.
A witness said he saw one victim's body "thrown 25 feet." Multiple witnesses and victims said that the driver appeared to be aiming for people, intentionally hitting them.
Other victims included Vera Jenkins, 40; Pedro Aglugov, 70; Leon Stevens, 56; and Susan Rajic, 43. One police officer was slightly injured when Popal was apprehended.
Popal remains in custody on charges of murder
, attempted murder
, assault with a deadly weapon, battery of a police officer, and evading arrest. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Popal's case is currently in preliminary hearings in San Francisco. Earlier procedures determined the accused is fit to stand trial for 36 felony counts in San Francisco county, and an additional two in Alameda county. In 2008, a San Francisco judge ruled Popal not guilty by reason of insanity and committed him to a state psychiatric facility; the Fremont murder charge remains pending.
reported that Popal "was terrorizing the neighborhoods near the Western Addition and Pacific Heights", and KTVU reported that a woman at the scene of the arrest heard Popal say "I'm a terrorist, I don't care." A second witness confirmed the first's account.
Popal's rampage ended in front of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, where the final two victims were struck.
However, within hours of Popal's arrest, police asserted that there was no evidence of Popal's intent to commit an act of terrorism.
Popal's attorney, Majeed Samara, has described his client as "mentally ill".
The media has noted the similarities between Popal's case and that of Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, an American citizen who intentionally struck nine pedestrians with his SUV on March 3, 2006, and was charged with nine counts of attempted murder. Taheri-azar was 22 at the time of the attack.
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
called Popal's actions "malicious and hateful". He commended authorities and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. He further said that "[a]cts of hate such as this will not be tolerated in California".
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV. The Honda Pilot is built in Lincoln, Alabama, and was also produced in Alliston, Ontario, Canada up until April 2007. The first generation Pilot was released in the summer of 2002 as a 2003 model, and in 2006 it received new front and rear fascias, a...
SUV on August 30, 2006, and faces a murder charge and 19 counts of attempted murder. Popal was 29 at the time of the attack. Several major news organizations have described his attack in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
as a "rampage".
Attack and the victims
The first person to be attacked, Stephen J. Wilson, 54, was struck in FremontFremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, California, and died at 11:50 am. Another victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
Popal struck two men at the intersection of Sutter and Steiner Streets in San Francisco. He passed through the intersection again in an attempt to hit the men a second time—and then a third time—before moving on.
A witness said he saw one victim's body "thrown 25 feet." Multiple witnesses and victims said that the driver appeared to be aiming for people, intentionally hitting them.
Other victims included Vera Jenkins, 40; Pedro Aglugov, 70; Leon Stevens, 56; and Susan Rajic, 43. One police officer was slightly injured when Popal was apprehended.
Popal remains in custody on charges of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
, assault with a deadly weapon, battery of a police officer, and evading arrest. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Popal's case is currently in preliminary hearings in San Francisco. Earlier procedures determined the accused is fit to stand trial for 36 felony counts in San Francisco county, and an additional two in Alameda county. In 2008, a San Francisco judge ruled Popal not guilty by reason of insanity and committed him to a state psychiatric facility; the Fremont murder charge remains pending.
Controversy over police claim of "no terrorism"
The San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
reported that Popal "was terrorizing the neighborhoods near the Western Addition and Pacific Heights", and KTVU reported that a woman at the scene of the arrest heard Popal say "I'm a terrorist, I don't care." A second witness confirmed the first's account.
Popal's rampage ended in front of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, where the final two victims were struck.
However, within hours of Popal's arrest, police asserted that there was no evidence of Popal's intent to commit an act of terrorism.
Popal's attorney, Majeed Samara, has described his client as "mentally ill".
The media has noted the similarities between Popal's case and that of Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, an American citizen who intentionally struck nine pedestrians with his SUV on March 3, 2006, and was charged with nine counts of attempted murder. Taheri-azar was 22 at the time of the attack.
Reactions
CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
called Popal's actions "malicious and hateful". He commended authorities and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. He further said that "[a]cts of hate such as this will not be tolerated in California".